Indianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco (15) warms up before an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
The Vikings and Colts game, originally scheduled for noon but flexed to Sunday Night Football, just got a whole lot interesting. Colts head coach Shane Steichen announced today that Anthony Richardson will be replaced with veteran QB Joe Flacco. Steichen was quoted saying that Joe “gives us the best chance to win right now”, and he is not lying. Anthony Richardson has been abysmal in his second year as the Colts starter. Sidelined with an injury last year, this was supposed to be the “coming out party” for the second-year man out of Florida. It has been anything but that. Richardson has only four touchdowns to seven interceptions and is 3rd worst in success rate only ahead of Spencer Rattler and Deshaun Watson. Not company you want to be in. When Flacco has started for the Colts, he has delivered a spark going 2-1 as a starter and his only loss was a high scoring affair in which they lost by three. Flacco had major success in Cleveland last year, taking over as QB and leading the Browns to the playoffs. Many are wondering why it took the Colts this long to give Flacco the nod, some are saying Colts owner Jim Irsay was pressuring Steichen to start Richardson. Whatever the reason, the Colts finally made what I believe to be the right call.
The Colts currently sit in second place of the AFC South at 4-4 behind the 6-2 Texans. With the playoffs still attainable for Indianapolis, this move may have come one week too late. Richardson was a huge part of the Colts loss to the Texans on Sunday and you have to believe they may have been able to pull off the win had Joe Flacco been playing. With the Texans ravaged with offensive injuries, especially at receiver, the Colts feel their window is now open and they must take advantage of it. So, Joe Flacco is the guy moving forward.
Looking ahead to Sunday night, this becomes a much different game for the Vikings. For Vikings fans, the propsect of the Vikings defense going up against Anthony Richardson was a good one. Coming off back-to-back losses, this has become a major game of importance for Minnesota. Now, having to face Joe Flacco who has had continual success the Vikings have a much tougher test. Minnesota is currently a 5.5-point favorite Sunday night.
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